diff --git a/src/compiler/commandLineParser.ts b/src/compiler/commandLineParser.ts
index 9111a72eb2d..3a4d5c6b1f7 100644
--- a/src/compiler/commandLineParser.ts
+++ b/src/compiler/commandLineParser.ts
@@ -212,8 +212,8 @@ namespace ts {
             shortName: "p",
             type: "string",
             isFilePath: true,
-            description: Diagnostics.Compile_the_project_in_the_given_directory_using_tsconfig_json_or_the_specified_config_file,
-            paramType: Diagnostics.DIRECTORY_OR_FILE
+            description: Diagnostics.Compile_the_project_given_the_path_to_its_configuration_file_or_to_a_folder_with_a_tsconfig_json,
+            paramType: Diagnostics.FILE_OR_DIRECTORY
         },
         {
             name: "removeComments",
diff --git a/src/compiler/diagnosticMessages.json b/src/compiler/diagnosticMessages.json
index 2230ffdbac0..6bdf9932fca 100644
--- a/src/compiler/diagnosticMessages.json
+++ b/src/compiler/diagnosticMessages.json
@@ -2513,7 +2513,7 @@
         "category": "Message",
         "code": 6019
     },
-    "Compile the project in the given directory, using 'tsconfig.json' or the specified config file.": {
+    "Compile the project given the path to its configuration file, or to a folder with a 'tsconfig.json'": {
         "category": "Message",
         "code": 6020
     },
@@ -2573,7 +2573,7 @@
         "category": "Message",
         "code": 6039
     },
-    "DIRECTORY_OR_FILE": {
+    "FILE OR DIRECTORY": {
         "category": "Message",
         "code": 6040
     },